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Peri Peri Paneer Bites (Easy Paneer Appetizer)

Tanvi Srivastava
Peri peri paneer bites is an easy fusion paneer appetizer that combines creamy paneer with the bold and spicy flavors of peri peri sauce.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Indian
Servings 12 bites

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1.5 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 2 scallions finely chopped (white & green parts separate)
  • 100 g (~4 oz) paneer small diced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or as needed
  • 2 tablespoon peri peri sauce
  • ⅛ teapsoon black pepper powder
  • 2 pinch sugar
  • 1.5 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice optional
  • 12 naan bites or regular naan cut in small pieces, toasted, to serve
  • 12 cucumber slices
  • pomegranate arils as needed

Instructions
 

  • Warm up cooking oil(I use avocado oil) in a pan.
  • Add minced garlic and chopped scallion white parts to the hot oil. Fry for 40-50 seconds so that the raw smell and taste goes away.
  • Add the paneer. If you want, you can let paneer crisp up to golden, we like it softer.
  • Drizzle the peri peri sauce along with black pepper powder & sugar. TIP- At this stage, you could add small diced colorful bell peppers as well if you wish.
  • Using a spatula, toss the paneer gently such that its coated very well. The paneer will be soft so be careful that it does not break. Taste and adjust the salt if needed.
  • Finish with heavy cream and lemon juice. Cook for 1 minute such that the paneer is coated well. You could keep it saucy or cook longer to dry out as per your liking. Mix in the scallion green parts.
  • Toast mini naan or pieces of naan until warmed and slightly crispy. Place a cucumber slice on each naan. Top with a tablespoon of the peri peri paneer. Add few pomegrante arils. Serve!

Notes

    1. Highly recommend using Nandos brand peri peri sauce. Unfortunately, I could not find it at my grocery store. I used the trader joes brand. 
    2. Please adjust the salt and lime juice levels in this recipe as per your taste and how your peri peri sauce tastes like. 
    3. If you have time at hand, marinate the paneer for 20-30 minutes in the peri peri sauce before pan frying it.
    4. You could golden brown the paneer before adding the sauce, we just like softer creamier texture in this paneer appetizer.
    5. If you do not get ready to use naan bites, simply cut up a regular naan into pieces. Or use crisped cocktail papad or nacho chips to serve (adds a crispy bite too).
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